Animal of February: The Giant Panda

The social giant panda can be found in Central China in the bamboo forests munching on bamboo sticks. These omnivorous gentle giants can weigh 300 pounds and stand about four to five feet tall.


The panda is on the endangered species list. There are only about 100 pandas left in the world.

The Fast Facts

1) Omnivore
2) Weight: 300 lbs
Height: 4 to 5 ft tall
3) Endangered
4) Range: Central China
Habitat: bamboo forests and mountains

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Animal of January: the Koala

The cute and popular koala bear is known by many for its teddy bear-looking physical features. However, this mammal is not a bear it is a marsupial, a pouched animal. These marsupials live in eastern Australia in the eucalyptus forests. Koalas have sharp claws to help them climb trees, which is where they spend most of their time. Koalas rarely leave their beloved eucalyptus trees, and often doze off tucked high up in the trees. Koalas sleep for about 18 hours a day. Koalas eat about 2 ½ lbs of eucalyptus leaves a day. Koalas do not drink that much, they get most of the moisture from the eucalyptus leaves. Since the koala eats eucalyptus leaves, the koala is an herbivore.

Fast Facts

1. Herbivore

2. Range: Eastern Australia

3. Habitat: Eucalyptus forests

National Geographic Animal Facts

Random Fact of the Day

Armadillos sleep an average of about 18 hours a day.

Zzz..

The Animal of the Month: The Tapir

The tapir, with its long nose, looks like a hippo/cow/horse/rhino, but is really related to the horse and rhinoceros family. They use their long trunks to pick tasty fruits off the trees, and clean themselves. Like hippos, tapirs often submerge in water to cool off. Tapirs are endangered herbivores that live in the forests and grasslands of Central and South America. Tapirs have been on Earth longer than humans, and scientists believe they have not changed much over the tens of millions of years they have been here. Below is a Malayan Tapir.



There are four types of tapirs-- Malayan Tapir, the Brazilian (or Lowland) Tapir, the Mountain Tapir, and Baird's Tapir. All four species of tapir are endangered. The Mountain tapir (below), or wolly tapir, is the smallest.


He looks like a small black bear with a big nose. You can see a Brazilian tapir below.


And last but not least, below is the Baird's tapir.


The Fast Facts
1. Size: weighs 500 to 800 lbs
2. herbivores
3. Protection Status: endangered
4. Group name: a candle
5. Did you Know? Tapirs have 14 toes!



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Thank you to National Geographic Animal facts

The Animal of October: the Coyote!

The coyote, with its keen hunting skills and cleverness, can be found in the continent's forests and mountains. This omnivorous member of the dog family will eat almost anything. They eat rabbits, fish, rodents, frogs, and even deer. They will also eat insects, fruits, snakes, and grass. Coyotes will also hunt livestock, sheep, and other pets, so they are considered pests to farmers.



Coyotes can run up to 40 mph when they are hunting. In the winter and fall, coyotes form packs to hunt more efficiently. Coyotes weigh 20 to 50 pounds.



Fast Facts
1. Omnivores
2. Weight: 20 to 50 lbs
3. Range: most of North America
4. Did you know? Coyotes are very good swimmers

Squirrels

Did you know that there are more than 200 species of squirrel that live all around the world? The squirrel is common to almost everyone. The squirrels that live in your back yard or in parks are usually tree squirrels. Like other rodents, squirrels have four front teeth that never stop growing so that they're teeth wont wear down from all of the gnawing. Squirrels eat nuts, leaves, roots, and other seeds.Squirrels are omnivores, and weigh anywhere from 0.5 to 4 lbs. A group of squirrels is called a scurry or dray.

The Animal of September: The Bottlenosed Dolphin!

With a familiar smile and a silly personality, the Bottlenosed dolphin is an intelligent aquatic mammal that can swim over speeds of 18 miles an hour. Dolphins are very social animals that live in groups known as pods. They communicate in various different sounds of whistles. Dolphins are carnivores, eating fish, shrimp, and squid. These sneaky critters are also seen sometimes following fishing boats to see if there is anything left over to eat.



Bottlenosed dolphins are found in the warm tropical waters all around the world. Dolphins were once hunted for meat and oil, but are now protected and dolphin fishing is limited. The average lifespan of a bottlenosed dolphin is 45 to 50 years. They can grow to be about 10 to 14 ft long, and weigh about 1,100 lbs. Dolphins can jump 16 ft out of the water and land with a big splash on their side or their back.



The Fast Facts
1. Carnivore
2. Average lifespan in the wild: 45 to 50 years
3. Weight 1,100 lbs
4. Group name: a pod
5. marine mammal